“Connor, you would not believe how hot this girl is that works there.” I bite my knuckles like I’ve seen him do in the past.

I smile, knowing I have his complete attention. I go for nonchalant as I describe the pixie woman that I immediately intrigued me.

“Tinkerbell, the nickname that I secretly gave her, is the hottest little thing I’ve ever seen. I don’t know where she’s from since I only talked to her for a second, but somewhere southern because she has that sweet southern accent.” I say the last part in a butchered southern accent, that doesn’t do her justice, but it gets the reaction I wanted.

Conner raises an eyebrow at me in a silent get-on-with-it manner as he prepares everyone’s plates. I hop off the counter.

“Oh, and she’s so out of your league,” I say to Connor while I pass him to sit down at the cozy oval table.

My brother pats Connor on the back before joining me. He sits across from me, while Kohen sits beside me and sets a glass of water down by my plate. I have to remind myself that it’s just wine, nothing to fight about, and bite my cheek to keep from saying anything. Conner takes the head of the table, muttering under his breath that I can’t hear. This is going to be fun. I decide to poke the bear a little more tonight.

“What was that, Connor, I didn’t quite hear you?” I ask.

Connor opens his mouth to speak, but Logan beats him to it. “So does Tinkerbell have an actual name or did her parents hate her that much?”

“Harper, but I think Tinkerbell suits her better.”

Connor finally asks the question I knew he was going to ask; it was just a matter of time. “Vague much, Addie? What’s her last name?”

As deadpan as I can manage I say, “Bell,” as nonchalantly as possible.

Connor gives me a death glare.

Staring at him I say slowly, as if I’m speaking to a child, “You’re a whore, so you won’t be getting her last name because we know you will charm your way into her pants just to piss me off. So don’t ask.”

Connor’s mouth hangs open. He closes and opens it again, then wisely shuts it. As the boys start talking about sports, I decide not to tell them they’re wrong about their predictions. It would only hurt their fragile egos for me to nicely point it out.

I smile when I see how much Kohen gets along with my family, almost as if he belongs here by my side. He even played a basketball game with them the other day at the gym. I love that he likes to hang out with my family without me there. I love that he cares so much about me and wants to be a part of everything in my life. He’s simply amazing. I know he plays a huge part in helping me heal, even if he doesn’t know it.

I’m smiling like an idiot when I’m finally pulled out of my thoughts and notice that the room has gone quiet. Everyone is watching me. My face turns red from getting caught staring at Kohen. Awesome.

“Eh . . .What?”

From the look on everyone’s face, it’s obvious that I missed something, again. Kohen wraps an arm around my shoulder, bringing me closer to him, and kisses the top of me head.

“I have to go, babe. I’m sorry, that was the hospital.”

I look at him, confused, because I honestly have no idea what’s going on. Kohen pushes back his chair while saying his goodbyes to the guys. That’s when it clicks into place.

“Wait, you’re leaving?”

Whoever said there’s no such thing as a stupid question has never met me. I fight the urge not to smack myself in the face. Of course he’s leaving, he just said that. Kohen helps me out of my chair and engulfs me into a hug.

He breathes me in. “Yes, I’m sorry, enjoy your night though.”

“Go and save lives.”

I kiss him, forgetting that we’re not alone, but Kohen hasn’t forgotten because he pulls back before it gets interesting. Saying a final goodbye to the guys and thanking Connor for dinner even though he cooked most of it, Kohen rushes toward the elevator. After watching Kohen leave, I turn to help with the clean up. When Connor starts to collect the plates, I stop him.

“Go sit down and watch T.V. or something. We’ve got this.”

I grab the plates out of his hands and make my way to the kitchen. Logan puts away the leftovers so I rinse off the dishes before loading them in the dishwasher.

Afterwards, Logan joins Connor in the other room for a beer. Once I’m left alone, I take my time cleaning up, wondering if I should leave or not. I know Kohen will check up on me to see what time I come home. I’d rather be home when he calls than explain to my brother why it matters where I am.

Even though I’ve cleaned the counter enough, I continue wiping it. I know I’m stalling and yet I can’t stop. When the kitchen sparkles and I have nothing left to do, it’s time to make my decision. If I stay, I’ll have fun, Kohen will pretend not to be upset, and I won’t go home to a lonely apartment. If I go, I’m doing it because of Kohen. I tap my foot, contemplating. I need to live my life for me and not someone else. Just to spite Kohen, I snatch a beer from the fridge before striding to the living room.

The feeling of something moving slightly wakes me. I feel someone’s arm pulling me closer and I sleepily wrap my arms around his neck. I crack an eye open to see Connor’s face. I close them again and drift to sleep, but wake when I feel him lay me on his bed. Connor fixes his blanket over me. Pushing my hair out of my face, he kisses my forehead.

“Get some sleep,” he whispers.

I try to smile in acknowledgement, but I doubt my face is even working, I’m that tired. I squint through bleary eyes at my brother whose behind Connor. He runs his hand over his buzz-cut. He’s so handsome, one day he will make a girl very happy.

“You’re going to sleep here tonight, okay, Addie?”

I don’t know if I manage to say anything before sleep takes over again. All too soon the sound of crashing and breaking rudely awakens me. I nearly fall out of bed. Rubbing the sleepiness from my eyes, I sit up. As soon as I take in my surroundings I notice that I’m in Connor’s bed.

The chaos outside his bedroom door sends goosebumps over my entire body. I know who’s out there. When his voice carries through the closed door, my body trembles. With a mind of their own, my legs swing out of bed and I’m suddenly standing next to the door. I pause with my hand on the knob. What am I doing? He shouldn’t still have this effect on me. I’m so angry with myself, I have to stop from punching a hole in Connor’s wall. I don’t care what’s going on out there.

I go back to bed, but pause mid-step when I hear another crash. I’m so tempted to open the door to face him, but the fear of him rejecting me again wins. So like the coward that I am, I pull the covers back. As I start to crawl into bed, Connor mumbles something, but I can’t make out any of the words from here. I should have stayed beside the door.

“Why is Ads here?” The man that invades my every thought ask too loudly.

Chapter Twelve

I gasp from the sound of my nickname on his lips, and the obvious threat in his voice. Connor mutters something that I can’t hear because Jax is now yelling over him.

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT’S NOT WHAT I THINK? WHY THE FUCK IS SHE IN YOUR BED!”

Something hard smashes by the door and I’m out of bed, running towards the noise, hoping that Jax didn’t throw Connor into the wall. When Connor talks in his scary calm voice, I stop myself from turning the knob.

“I’ll let that pass, but if you try that again, your drunk ass will be on the floor. Now calm down and I’ll explain.”

Gah, the temptation to open the door is overpowering. I have to clench both hands at my sides to keep from reaching out. I lean against the door to hear better.